West Brom must seek to follow Mason Holgate’s arrival by landing teammate James McCarthy

According to a recent report from The Daily Mail, West Brom are one of a few teams interested in a January move for midfielder James McCarthy. The Republic of Ireland international currently plays his football at Premier League outfit Everton and has done so since leaving Wigan Athletic back in 2013, although a lack of game time under Toffees manager Marco Silva this term has called his future at the club into question.

And reports suggest that Darren Moore’s Baggies, as well as Premier League duo Fulham and West Ham, are keen on a move for the £6.3 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt), and having already signed one Everton star in Mason Holgate this month, landing McCarthy as well would leave promotion very much on for the Midlands outfit this season.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the Baggies are very much in contention for an immediate return to the Premier League given they sit fourth in the Championship table after 26 matches, although it seems pretty clear that they are going to have to tighten up defensively if they are to sustain a challenge until May.

Moore’s side have shipped 34 goals so far this term which is the joint-most alongside Norwich City of any team currently sat in the top eight of the division, which is why a move for Everton youngster Holgate wasn’t overly surprising earlier in the month given the versatility he will offer to the Baggies backline.

The 22-year-old is adept as both a right back and indeed a centre back to thus give Moore plenty of options in his defence, while the addition of the tenacious McCarthy in the centre of the field can only further help West Brom form a solid foundation from which to challenge for promotion.

The 28-year-old has struggled greatly with injuries in recent years to restrict his game time at Goodison Park, but in between various injury issues have been several impressive central midfield displays, with the Irishman combining skill both on and off the ball to very good effect.

McCarthy made his name at Wigan under Roberto Martinez for his calmness and overall composure with the ball at his feet, which he has since transferred into his time at Everton at the same time developing the so-called ‘dirty work’ in the middle of the park in breaking up play and screening the backline.

And in a Baggies side that have shown clear defensively vulnerabilities at times so far this season, having someone like McCarthy just in front to help keep things ticking over off the ball as well as transition play on it can only be beneficial to Moore and his team in their quest for an immediate Premier League return – the forward play is there, it’s just a case of bringing everything else up to that level.

And with Holgate having made the move to the Hawthorns, the Baggies must seek to add his Everton teammate McCarthy as well, in a move which would leave promotion very much on for Moore’s team this term.